A MAJOR rebuild of the A338 Spur Road could begin as early as next spring after the government agreed to plough £66.4million into Dorset.

The road is seen as crucial to creating jobs by unlocking the potential of the industrial land at Bournemouth Airport.

As well as refurbishing the worn-out A338, the money should add a lane to the stretch between the Cooper Dean and Blackwater junctions.

The idea of a new link road to the airport has been ruled impractical, but there will be improvements to the key junctions near Aviation Park – including the Hurn roundabout, Chapel Gate and the Blackwater interchange.

Gordon Page, chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said of the Spur Road scheme: “At long last we’re going to do it.”

He said there would be a “proper rebuild of the road”.

He added: “I would seriously hope that we could start next spring, early summer. We’ve said we’re shovel-ready – to my knowledge we are and we should do it.”

Transport minister Baroness Kramer, who was at Bournemouth Airport yesterday, said: “This is an airport that’s growing, that has exciting plans for the future. Its owners have invested heavily in it but obviously the road access is poor so this will be to improve the A338 and other kinds of improvements to try and help that connectivity and the future of the airport.”

John Twigg, planning director with Manchester Airports Group, said: “This is really good news for us because there’s one thing that our passengers, employers on the business park and investors need and that’s good and reliable access. That’s one of the things we’ve found difficult over the years. As the roads have got more congested, it’s got more difficult to persuade any of those people to use Bournemouth Airport.”

Yesterday’s announcement included plans for 200 homes near Bournemouth Airport, in addition to 2,500 around Poole, as well as 42,000 square metres of commercial floor space at the airport.

Comments (34)

As usual it is a half measure.
A resurface and a small bit of extra road on a badly designed junction, and we are supposed to say thanks.
Work that was promised years ago, after they wasted a million quid or so on those lizard fences, may now be done. Woo hoo.
As for the airport man saying it is more difficult to persuade anyone to come to the airport, well rightly or wrongly people feel ripped off by your drop off fee, and I don't know any other airports that charge like this.
I suggest removing this charge will have a far better effect on the image of the airport rather than a smoother spur road and improved black water junction.
Oh and a few more flights to decent places should help.
People get to Southampton okay and that is a lot further for local residents.
Sort it out.

As usual it is a half measure.
A resurface and a small bit of extra road on a badly designed junction, and we are supposed to say thanks.
Work that was promised years ago, after they wasted a million quid or so on those lizard fences, may now be done. Woo hoo.
As for the airport man saying it is more difficult to persuade anyone to come to the airport, well rightly or wrongly people feel ripped off by your drop off fee, and I don't know any other airports that charge like this.
I suggest removing this charge will have a far better effect on the image of the airport rather than a smoother spur road and improved black water junction.
Oh and a few more flights to decent places should help.
People get to Southampton okay and that is a lot further for local residents.
Sort it out.Huey

Resurface and widen the road a little bit how's that going to improve the airport? You need a motor way to continue on from the m27 on into Poole seeing as that is having improvements too. Why improve these industries if your only going to do a little surface work?
I agree with HUEY I tend to look for other airports rather than Bournemouth when I go abroad and 95% of them have the motor way next to them!

Resurface and widen the road a little bit how's that going to improve the airport? You need a motor way to continue on from the m27 on into Poole seeing as that is having improvements too. Why improve these industries if your only going to do a little surface work?
I agree with HUEY I tend to look for other airports rather than Bournemouth when I go abroad and 95% of them have the motor way next to them!dorsetgills

He added: “It’s good for jobs. Many of those who work in the industrial land are Bournemouth residents, particularly from the north of the borough.”

There are currently two quite large projects in progress at the Airport, one is contracted out to a Spanish company who have sent over Spanish workers in their Spanish vehicles and the other project is being dealt with by a a Polish civil engineering firm, with Polish peolpe and their Polish vehicles ,

I'm struggling to see how this will help Bournemouth residents with work !!

He added: “It’s good for jobs. Many of those who work in the industrial land are Bournemouth residents, particularly from the north of the borough.”
There are currently two quite large projects in progress at the Airport, one is contracted out to a Spanish company who have sent over Spanish workers in their Spanish vehicles and the other project is being dealt with by a a Polish civil engineering firm, with Polish peolpe and their Polish vehicles ,
I'm struggling to see how this will help Bournemouth residents with work !!cheeriedriteup

If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.

If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.Ragwin

All sounds good to me, any improvements to the Spur Road, as well as access to the Airport and Aviation Park have got to be a good thing. Especially the extra lane, albeit only on a small stretch at this point but it's a start.

All sounds good to me, any improvements to the Spur Road, as well as access to the Airport and Aviation Park have got to be a good thing. Especially the extra lane, albeit only on a small stretch at this point but it's a start.boardsandphotos

Ragwin wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.

Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.

Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?

[quote][p][bold]Ragwin[/bold] wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.[/p][/quote]Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.
Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?boardsandphotos

Ragwin wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.

Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.

Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?

Totally agree, let's not forget the money comes from a Central Gov. If we start voting on how money is spent we then enter the argument Dorset are only entitled to contributions made from Dorset residents, I would much rather have the bigger pool of cash which major Cities have contributed to

[quote][p][bold]boardsandphotos[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ragwin[/bold] wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.[/p][/quote]Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.
Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?[/p][/quote]Totally agree, let's not forget the money comes from a Central Gov. If we start voting on how money is spent we then enter the argument Dorset are only entitled to contributions made from Dorset residents, I would much rather have the bigger pool of cash which major Cities have contributed tocheeriedriteup

Ragwin wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.

Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.

Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?

There could be better things to spend the money on, such as completing the high speed fibre optic cable infrastructure or adding even more educational and research facilities to the local area so we could build up a pool of expertise in certain fields.

Building houses and roads seems to me like a 20th century solution to resolve 21st century issues. Initially, better road access might just encourage firms to move their facilities from Dorset onto a site off the M27 where they can service a bigger area from a single site. i.e. local job destruction rather than creation.

And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years.

[quote][p][bold]boardsandphotos[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ragwin[/bold] wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.[/p][/quote]Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.
Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?[/p][/quote]There could be better things to spend the money on, such as completing the high speed fibre optic cable infrastructure or adding even more educational and research facilities to the local area so we could build up a pool of expertise in certain fields.
Building houses and roads seems to me like a 20th century solution to resolve 21st century issues. Initially, better road access might just encourage firms to move their facilities from Dorset onto a site off the M27 where they can service a bigger area from a single site. i.e. local job destruction rather than creation.
And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years.Ragwin

Ragwin wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.

Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.

Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?

There could be better things to spend the money on, such as completing the high speed fibre optic cable infrastructure or adding even more educational and research facilities to the local area so we could build up a pool of expertise in certain fields.

Building houses and roads seems to me like a 20th century solution to resolve 21st century issues. Initially, better road access might just encourage firms to move their facilities from Dorset onto a site off the M27 where they can service a bigger area from a single site. i.e. local job destruction rather than creation.

And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years.

"...And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years..."

Well they are already improving the cycle lane indrastructure so thats that sorted. ;) Although it's still nowhere near as good as it needs to be.

[quote][p][bold]Ragwin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]boardsandphotos[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ragwin[/bold] wrote:
If the government plans to spend £66m in the local area, it would have been a lot more democratic if they had consulted the public first on how that money should be spent. It is after all public money, whether through taxation or future national debt. But as most are all aware, this infrastructure spend across the country is a vote buying exercise in the run-up to a general election.[/p][/quote]Do you have any idea how time consuming it woulf be to cast a vote everytime some money was spent? I'd much rather the Government just cracked on rather than add more administration to every project that is drawn up.
Road improvements andmore housing? How is that just a vote buying exercuse? Those are two points that everyone wants aren't they surely?[/p][/quote]There could be better things to spend the money on, such as completing the high speed fibre optic cable infrastructure or adding even more educational and research facilities to the local area so we could build up a pool of expertise in certain fields.
Building houses and roads seems to me like a 20th century solution to resolve 21st century issues. Initially, better road access might just encourage firms to move their facilities from Dorset onto a site off the M27 where they can service a bigger area from a single site. i.e. local job destruction rather than creation.
And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years.[/p][/quote]"...And better public transport alternatives should be the focus since travel by the private petrol/diesel motor car has no future. A car-centric plan is going to fail within 10 years..."
Well they are already improving the cycle lane indrastructure so thats that sorted. ;) Although it's still nowhere near as good as it needs to be.boardsandphotos

Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.

Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.StuartMc1

mark.s wrote:
60M to add an extra lane to a small section? Hmmm, that's not good enough.

That isn't all the money is being spent on but regardless road works do not come cheap:

"...A mile of new motorway costs on average £30m, according to the Highways Agency..." - http://m.bbc.co.uk/n
ews/magazine-1392468
7

[quote][p][bold]mark.s[/bold] wrote:
60M to add an extra lane to a small section? Hmmm, that's not good enough.[/p][/quote]That isn't all the money is being spent on but regardless road works do not come cheap:
"...A mile of new motorway costs on average £30m, according to the Highways Agency..." - http://m.bbc.co.uk/n
ews/magazine-1392468
7boardsandphotos

Adding a third lane between Blackwater and Cooper Dean will greatly improve the situation as it will allow traffic to filter directly onto the inside lane rather than the situation now where nervous drivers stop on the slip road and then pull out from a stand still into fast moving traffic, it will also allow traffic at busy times to queue up on the inside lane when coming off at Blackwater too. But I should think this and the resurfacing for the whole of the spur road will quickly swallow up that £66m so i'm not sure where the finances are coming from to fund the rest of their plans?

Adding a third lane between Blackwater and Cooper Dean will greatly improve the situation as it will allow traffic to filter directly onto the inside lane rather than the situation now where nervous drivers stop on the slip road and then pull out from a stand still into fast moving traffic, it will also allow traffic at busy times to queue up on the inside lane when coming off at Blackwater too. But I should think this and the resurfacing for the whole of the spur road will quickly swallow up that £66m so i'm not sure where the finances are coming from to fund the rest of their plans?BarrHumbug

Any improvements to the infrastructure are welcome and long overdue.I don't think there is a road in the area that isn't in need of re-surfacing or more drastic work. Hopefully some of this cash will drift down to the town and not only on the bit that shows!!I believe the large part of house building is already on the cards at Parley so hopefully someone will have the brais and foresight to allowfor the extra traffic etc. in these plans?
As already pointed out previously with companies not using local companies/labour for these works,it would be nice if there was an addon in the contracts enforcing this.Sorry,forget that Brussels rules and most European firms jump at the chance of any UK contracts at a price.

Any improvements to the infrastructure are welcome and long overdue.I don't think there is a road in the area that isn't in need of re-surfacing or more drastic work. Hopefully some of this cash will drift down to the town and not only on the bit that shows!!I believe the large part of house building is already on the cards at Parley so hopefully someone will have the brais and foresight to allowfor the extra traffic etc. in these plans?
As already pointed out previously with companies not using local companies/labour for these works,it would be nice if there was an addon in the contracts enforcing this.Sorry,forget that Brussels rules and most European firms jump at the chance of any UK contracts at a price.Gastines3

Improvements to the Spur Road have been on the cards for years so are long overdue. I notice no mention of improving the road between the Spur Road and the airport. Also interesting that the talk is of boosting the industrial estates around the airport and not the actual growth of the airport activity. My prediction is that in the long term Bournemouth Airport will cease to operate as an airport and the land be sold off for development.

Improvements to the Spur Road have been on the cards for years so are long overdue. I notice no mention of improving the road between the Spur Road and the airport. Also interesting that the talk is of boosting the industrial estates around the airport and not the actual growth of the airport activity. My prediction is that in the long term Bournemouth Airport will cease to operate as an airport and the land be sold off for development.BmthNewshound

I hope that they will look at placing a second lane both sides at blackwater and a second lane at West Parley from Chapel gate going westward.
These are the 2 pinch points that create the car park that is hurn .

If there was some long term vision then some sort of public transport system would have been planned, ie. light railway or tram system from Ringwood to Bournemouth and a link to the airport, but that is never going to happen, sadly.

I hope that they will look at placing a second lane both sides at blackwater and a second lane at West Parley from Chapel gate going westward.
These are the 2 pinch points that create the car park that is hurn .
If there was some long term vision then some sort of public transport system would have been planned, ie. light railway or tram system from Ringwood to Bournemouth and a link to the airport, but that is never going to happen, sadly.Topographic

"add a third lane" etc however is the reporters view, not a confirmation. We also do not need the M27 extending to Bournemouth or Poole. All you do is move a massive bottle neck to around and outside of the town instead of being in the forest.
The A338 can be easily improved by putting some cats eyes and white lines on it! Its pitch black at night or in winter spray, you cant see the edge and you cant see the center line. Any motorway roadworks have hundreds of thousands of colored reflectors indicating the lane edges, and here we cant even maintain cats eyes. DCC is responsible for this stretch and they should be doing this anyway.
Traffic also leaving the airport park is fed through the same lanes almost, going north to Ringwood as south to Bournemouth. The latter you are fed through lights then a left turn then through the slip. Its the same leaving Christchurch. You cant drive onwards to the airport or right and northbound to Ringwood because you share the same lane as Bournemouth. If they halved the pavement and reduced the lane width you could run two lanes quite easily. They are happy to do that for cyclists. A bit of thought can make a big a difference instead of "yessss, we need a motorway!" or more lanes, instead of tackling the abysmal planning that actual cause the problems.

Go up Queens Road under the Wessex Way, to get on Poole Road outside of Westbourne is terrible. One lane going straight on left and right because they allow parking on the left, but then there is a massive empty car park just literally across the road. Its a similar nonsense. Picking the low hanging fruit is easy. Just no-body does it.

Any investment is good investment surely.
"add a third lane" etc however is the reporters view, not a confirmation. We also do not need the M27 extending to Bournemouth or Poole. All you do is move a massive bottle neck to around and outside of the town instead of being in the forest.
The A338 can be easily improved by putting some cats eyes and white lines on it! Its pitch black at night or in winter spray, you cant see the edge and you cant see the center line. Any motorway roadworks have hundreds of thousands of colored reflectors indicating the lane edges, and here we cant even maintain cats eyes. DCC is responsible for this stretch and they should be doing this anyway.
Traffic also leaving the airport park is fed through the same lanes almost, going north to Ringwood as south to Bournemouth. The latter you are fed through lights then a left turn then through the slip. Its the same leaving Christchurch. You cant drive onwards to the airport or right and northbound to Ringwood because you share the same lane as Bournemouth. If they halved the pavement and reduced the lane width you could run two lanes quite easily. They are happy to do that for cyclists. A bit of thought can make a big a difference instead of "yessss, we need a motorway!" or more lanes, instead of tackling the abysmal planning that actual cause the problems.
Go up Queens Road under the Wessex Way, to get on Poole Road outside of Westbourne is terrible. One lane going straight on left and right because they allow parking on the left, but then there is a massive empty car park just literally across the road. Its a similar nonsense. Picking the low hanging fruit is easy. Just no-body does it.Branksome snail

Gordon Page. As an aircraft engineer I have worked for a company he was connected with. It will be gopd for him I have no doubt amd I note that 'grinning Beesley' associates himself with deal. Alls well then

Gordon Page. As an aircraft engineer I have worked for a company he was connected with. It will be gopd for him I have no doubt amd I note that 'grinning Beesley' associates himself with deal. Alls well thenLord Elpus

Central government investing to help boost the local economy cannot be seens as anything else but good news. Whatever the plans for that investment may turn out to be is going to be another thing altogether, I should imagine.

Central government investing to help boost the local economy cannot be seens as anything else but good news. Whatever the plans for that investment may turn out to be is going to be another thing altogether, I should imagine.Marty Caine UKIP

Topographic wrote:
I hope that they will look at placing a second lane both sides at blackwater and a second lane at West Parley from Chapel gate going westward.
These are the 2 pinch points that create the car park that is hurn .

If there was some long term vision then some sort of public transport system would have been planned, ie. light railway or tram system from Ringwood to Bournemouth and a link to the airport, but that is never going to happen, sadly.

I have the answer " The Springfield Monorail System" - sorry The Bournemouth Monorail Systems

[quote][p][bold]Topographic[/bold] wrote:
I hope that they will look at placing a second lane both sides at blackwater and a second lane at West Parley from Chapel gate going westward.
These are the 2 pinch points that create the car park that is hurn .
If there was some long term vision then some sort of public transport system would have been planned, ie. light railway or tram system from Ringwood to Bournemouth and a link to the airport, but that is never going to happen, sadly.[/p][/quote]I have the answer " The Springfield Monorail System" - sorry The Bournemouth Monorail SystemsP Barker

How exactly does this help Bournemouth take off ? - added one lane from Bmth to Blackwater. It make no difference what so ever to anyone living north of Bournemouth. Totally and utterly pointless.

How exactly does this help Bournemouth take off ? - added one lane from Bmth to Blackwater. It make no difference what so ever to anyone living north of Bournemouth. Totally and utterly pointless.P Barker

Avengerboy wrote:
Having had the airport gifted to them for next to nothing you would of thought the road infrastructure would of been paid for by the benefit recipient?

Cough! Yes I'm sure the airport drop off charge could pay for it Cough! ;)

[quote][p][bold]Avengerboy[/bold] wrote:
Having had the airport gifted to them for next to nothing you would of thought the road infrastructure would of been paid for by the benefit recipient?[/p][/quote]Cough! Yes I'm sure the airport drop off charge could pay for it Cough! ;)boardsandphotos

Not quite sure how re-surfacing the same old road, chuck in a new lane (parking fees will apply during heat waves) will solve the problems Bournemouth had last year over the hottest weekends when the road was gridlocked as everyone made their way home.As long as everyone feels a bit better for it that cant be bad.......until the Works start and the road grinds to a standstill and the complaints floodgate opens.

Not quite sure how re-surfacing the same old road, chuck in a new lane (parking fees will apply during heat waves) will solve the problems Bournemouth had last year over the hottest weekends when the road was gridlocked as everyone made their way home.As long as everyone feels a bit better for it that cant be bad.......until the Works start and the road grinds to a standstill and the complaints floodgate opens.sprintervanman

So, you want the M27 to come to your doorstep. Well, Ringwood has the A31 splitting it in two with just a dual-carriageway. I suppose then that wiping Ringwood off the map would suit you perfectly!
Oh, we could always drive a huge, 6 lane motorway through the National Park.
It's very positive to have such funds to spend, but look at the whole situation, rather than piecemeal.

So, you want the M27 to come to your doorstep. Well, Ringwood has the A31 splitting it in two with just a dual-carriageway. I suppose then that wiping Ringwood off the map would suit you perfectly!
Oh, we could always drive a huge, 6 lane motorway through the National Park.
It's very positive to have such funds to spend, but look at the whole situation, rather than piecemeal.Rick White

Rick White wrote:
So, you want the M27 to come to your doorstep. Well, Ringwood has the A31 splitting it in two with just a dual-carriageway. I suppose then that wiping Ringwood off the map would suit you perfectly!
Oh, we could always drive a huge, 6 lane motorway through the National Park.
It's very positive to have such funds to spend, but look at the whole situation, rather than piecemeal.

'huge 6 lane motorway' 'wipe ringwood off the map'

Oh such drama......

[quote][p][bold]Rick White[/bold] wrote:
So, you want the M27 to come to your doorstep. Well, Ringwood has the A31 splitting it in two with just a dual-carriageway. I suppose then that wiping Ringwood off the map would suit you perfectly!
Oh, we could always drive a huge, 6 lane motorway through the National Park.
It's very positive to have such funds to spend, but look at the whole situation, rather than piecemeal.[/p][/quote]'huge 6 lane motorway' 'wipe ringwood off the map'
Oh such drama......boardsandphotos

StuartMc1 wrote:
Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.

It's not just the east/west corridor that needs sorting, what about going north/south? An overloaded A338 is just awful from Ringwood to Salisbury, and getting to and from Bristol is a farce from here. I believe that lorry drivers coming to Poole from Bristol go M4, A34, M3, M27, A31. How daft is that?

[quote][p][bold]StuartMc1[/bold] wrote:
Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.[/p][/quote]It's not just the east/west corridor that needs sorting, what about going north/south? An overloaded A338 is just awful from Ringwood to Salisbury, and getting to and from Bristol is a farce from here. I believe that lorry drivers coming to Poole from Bristol go M4, A34, M3, M27, A31. How daft is that?breamoreboy

StuartMc1 wrote:
Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.

It's not just the east/west corridor that needs sorting, what about going north/south? An overloaded A338 is just awful from Ringwood to Salisbury, and getting to and from Bristol is a farce from here. I believe that lorry drivers coming to Poole from Bristol go M4, A34, M3, M27, A31. How daft is that?

Agreed, the A350 is such a slog and if you get stuck behind a caravan or a lorry there are only a handful of places to safely overtake, I'd love to see the north/south routes improved.

[quote][p][bold]breamoreboy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]StuartMc1[/bold] wrote:
Fluff and nonsense, Dorset needs the M27 extending through it to feed the west country with proper junctions at various points, anything else is just papering over the cracks in the outdated road infrastructure.[/p][/quote]It's not just the east/west corridor that needs sorting, what about going north/south? An overloaded A338 is just awful from Ringwood to Salisbury, and getting to and from Bristol is a farce from here. I believe that lorry drivers coming to Poole from Bristol go M4, A34, M3, M27, A31. How daft is that?[/p][/quote]Agreed, the A350 is such a slog and if you get stuck behind a caravan or a lorry there are only a handful of places to safely overtake, I'd love to see the north/south routes improved.boardsandphotos